Discussing the twists and turns of life and the lessons we learn along the way.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Fiction Friday-Just Visiting

Just Visiting

Betty was sleeping in her
recliner when she heard the sound.She
stirred slightly, not awake but not asleep either. It was a familiar sound yet
she couldn’t identify it in her dazed condition.Just as she was drifting back into a peaceful
slumber, she heard the noise again.

Wide awake now, she looked around
the room to find the source of the racket.When she saw it, she was shocked that she hadn’t been able to identify
it sooner. Walter, her husband of
fifty-two years, was rocking back and forth in the old rocker.Betty saw his mouth move, but couldn’t
understand what he said.The loud creak
of the rocking chair, which they had received as a wedding gift, made
conversation difficult.He stopped
rocking so she could hear him.

“I just wanted to visit with
you.It’s been a long time since we’ve
talked.How have you been?”

“I’m fine.I have good days and bad days.How are you?”

“I’m great.All of my days are good.I haven’t had a bad day in six months.”Walter was clearly excited. “I feel great.I walk all day long, just visiting with one person then another.I can always find someone to talk to, you
know?”

“How well I remember.You were always the first one to arrive at
church and the last one to leave.I used
to get so mad at you for holding up dinner.”

“Well you don’t have to worry
about that anymore.”He chuckled.It had never bothered him when she would get angry
about one of his habits.He was who he
was and didn’t plan to change.He always
reasoned that he had been behaving that way longer than she had been getting
upset about it; so it was easier for her to change.Every once in a while, he’d feel a little guilty
about not trying to change.Then he’d
remember that he was that way before they met.He rationalized, She knew that
when she married me.With that
justifying statement, he continued the habit and secretly enjoyed watching his
beautiful wife turn three shades of red as she tried to keep her temper in
check.

“No, I’d gladly worry about it
again if you were here.”

“I know, Sweetheart.I’d love to see you happy, but I just don’t
want to come back.You’ll understand
when you get there.You wouldn’t want to
come back either.”

“Do you miss me?”

“No, Darling.I’m afraid not.”

Betty couldn’t keep the tears
from falling.She had been sure he was
missing her as much as she was missing him.Now he stood before her saying that wasn’t true.

“Please don’t cry,
Sweetheart.I love you, but I don’t miss
you.I have to leave soon.Let’s don’t spoil what little time we have
together with tears.”

“I’m sorry.I just miss you so much.”

“Is that why you are sleeping in
the recliner?”Walter asked tenderly.

“Yes.I haven’t slept in our bed since you
left.When I go in the bedroom I just
see a huge, ugly platform.I just can’t
sleep there.I did try, but I kept
reaching for you.The pillows weren’t
comfortable, so I bought new ones.That
didn’t help.I finally realized what was
wrong.I had laid my head on your should
before falling asleep every night for fifty-two years.They don’t make a pillow as comfortable as
your shoulder.Did you really have to
leave me?”

“Yes, Darling.I stayed as long as I could, but finally the
pain was more than I could stand.”

“The doctor was giving you pain
pills.”

“The pills were only easing the
pain.They didn’t kill it.Please don’t begrudge me the opportunity to
be pain free and happy.”

“I don’t.I’m sorry if I sound as if I do.I’m just being selfish.It isn’t easy being alone.”Betty heard the whine in her voice, but
couldn’t help feeling sorry for herself.

“I know.You won’t be alone for very long.Soon you’ll come with me and we’ll be able to
visit for all eternity.”

“Is that why you’re here?Can I go with you today?”

“Not today, but soon.When you come, I’ll be waiting at the gate
for you.”

“How will you know I’m coming?”Betty asked anxiously.

“Don’t worry about it.I’ll know.”

The unexpected ringing of the
telephone prevented her from asking more questions.“Hello?”She answered.

“Hi, Mom.What are you doing today?”

“Oh I was just visiting with your
dad.”The silence was deafening.“Alisha?Are you there?”

“Mom, Dad has been dead for six
months.”

“Do you really think I don’t know
that?In case you don’t remember, I’m
the one that wakes up every morning without him.He may have died six months ago, but he is sitting
in my rocking chair today.”

As if to verify her statement,
Betty turned toward the old rocking chair.It was perfectly still and empty.She quickly looked around the room.“Walter?Walter?Where are you?”With fresh tears, she said, “He was here,
Alisha.I know he was here.I saw him.”

“When did you see him?”

“When I woke up this morning.”

“I think you were dreaming, Mom.”

“I know the difference in reality
and a dream, Missy.”Betty snapped.

Alisha cringed as she heard the
name.It was used to express her
mother’s displeasure with her.She had
heard it often growing up.Alisha
couldn’t decide if she upset her mother often or her mother was always upset
and funneled it Alisha’s way.

“Calm down, Mom.I’m sure you believe you saw Dad, but I’ve never
heard of someone coming back from the dead.”

“Well I don’t care.He was here.”

“Have you been feeling alright?”

“Oh, good one, Alisha.Like I don’t know what you’re trying to
say.I’m not crazy.I talked to your dad everyday for fifty-two
years and I don’t plan to stop now.”

“I don’t want you to stop talking
to him.I just want to make sure you
know that he wasn’t really there today.”

“He was here and you are not
going to get me to admit otherwise.”Betty’s voice was at a level and pitch that clearly showed her
frustration.

“Fine, Mom.Just please don’t tell anyone that Dad came
to see you today.”

“I’ll think about it.”Betty snapped as she hung up without saying
goodbye.She loved her daughter, but
there were times when they butted heads.Usually during those times neither was willing to back down.Walter had intervened many times when Alisha
was growing up.

Betty went back to her
recliner.“Walter?” She called
softly.“Walter, please come back.I need you so much.I don’t want to live without you.”Again the tears started and couldn’t be
stopped.He had been the love of her
life.She had married him right out of
high school and had never considered loving anyone else.Every decision she had made for the last
fifty-two years had been with his happiness in mind. The thought of facing
another day without him was unbearable.Eventually
Betty fell asleep.

Alisha began to feel guilty for
the way she had talked to her mother.She thought about it for a while and decided she owed her mother an
apology.With a heavy heart and filled
with anxiety, Alisha dialed her mother’s phone number.This time there was no answer.After several calls, she drove to Betty’s
house.As she walked in the front door,
she saw her mother sleeping in the recliner.Irritated that her mother hadn’t gotten up to answer the phone, Alisha
walked over to wake her up.

“Mom.Mom, wake up.When are you going to learn you have to answer the phone?I worry when you don’t answer my calls.Mom?Mother?”

Betty didn’t wake up.She didn’t move.She had gone to be with Walter, her husband,
lover, friend, and reason for living.

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